Second Place: A person navigates a sampan under willow branches in a narrow canal by business student Julia Yan.

“This photo is all about peace and tranquility,” Cahill said. “While a tighter crop would have improved the image, the photographer managed to use an overhead perch to catch the red deck and perfectly placed feet. Plenty of reflections, soft hues and hanging branches have created a wonderful three-dimensional, travel poster-like image.”

Yan wins a $50 gift card from Brock Dining Services.

Honourable mentions went to:

Alexandra Lavigne's photo at Rome's Trevi Fountain.

Business communications student Alexandra Lavigne’s “thoughtful image of a woman about to toss a coin in Rome’s Trevi fountain.” Cahill said the photo creates a true holiday keepsake.

“You have to wonder what was she wishing?”

Kate Bezanson's photo of her son doing a flip off a dock on Oak Lake in Havelock.

Sociology Chair Kate Bezanson’s photo of her son, Joshua, doing a cannon-ball off a dock into Oak Lake near Havelock.

“A really great angle and perfect timing makes the image so real,” Cahill said. “And the off-centre composition and the large expanse of open water gives the image a unique dimension.”

Rob Smith's photo of a crab on a rock on Santa Fe Island.

Rob Smith, a student in Applied Health Sciences, and his shot of a bright red crab sitting on the side of a big black rock.

“The composition and lighting is perfect,” Cahill said. “One might think it is a black and white image with the lone crustacean painted red in Photoshop. This photographer has a keen eye.”